Dr. and Mrs. Martin Coleman getting ready for shoulder surgery in the OR
Rotator Cuff Surgery is not a simple process. I had surgery on left shoulder in 2015 and now the right shoulder in 2022. My left shoulder was a complete success. I have zero pain and complete flexibility. Dr. Coleman performed the surgery and Dr. Carlson was my caretaker before, and after the surgery in 2015 and 2022. I am about 4 months plus out from the 2022 surgery.
I have done home physical therapy and 2 months of commercial physical therapy.. Even though I went 3 times a week for therapy, it took me a while to realize that I really needed to do it at home on the between days. At first I thought that their therapy was all that was needed, even though they told me to do it at home. I figured that was what I was paying them for. LOL. It was when I started doing therapy at home, and in the facility that I really noticed improvement.
The improvement/mobility is very slow. At first I could barely reach bottom of steering wheel. It was weeks before I could reach the top. And that seat belt was a painful challenge. Real success was when I could get my sunglasses out of the car ceiling compartment. The first weeks were difficult as I could barely bath myself. Getting that other arm pit was very hard, but had to be done, otherwise stinky pits.. Drying my back after the shower was a struggle. A very supportive wife was very helpful. I found summer surgery better/easier than winter surgery. In winter surgery, you still have to deal with getting coats off and on, a real pain. Even though I am four months out from surgery, I know that I am not where I want to be in terms of flexibility or strength. I do my own therapy two times a day and sometimes in-between. I also found it difficult to not lift things that were heavier than Dr. Coleman wanted me to. Coffee cup first, then dinner plate, etc.
In summary, the surgery by Dr. Coleman was pretty easy as I had to do nothing but show up. It’s the therapy afterwards that was a “pain”. Oh, by the way, sleeping those first weeks were very difficult. I slept on the bed, the couch, the recliner or anywhere I could get comfortable. I also discovered that sleeping with a thin pillow under the surgery area was extremely helpful.
Good Luck!!!
PS: Wiping your butt was a learning process too if the surgery was done on your predominate hand. LOL
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Regards, Hoyt
Hoyt Davenport, Jr